Institute of Digestive Diseases, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Department of Geratology, Baoshan Branch of Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201999, China.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Jul;139:111587. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111587. Epub 2021 Apr 14.
Salvia-Nelumbinis naturalis (SNN) formula is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, and has been confirmed to be effective in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Here we showed that 4-week SNN administration alleviated methionine-choline-deficiency (MCD) diet-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammation as well as serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) increase in C57BL/6 mice. Fecal 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that SNN altered the structure of gut microbiota and partially reversed the gut dysbiosis. Simultaneously, we analyzed the fecal BA profile using liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-TQMS) -based metabolomics, and found that SNN modulated fecal BA profile, predominantly increased the microbiomes related BA species (e.g. nordeoxycholic acid) which in turn, activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) signaling pathway in the colon but not the ileum. The activation of intestinal FXR-FGF15 signaling was accompanied by increase of liver protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) phosphorylation, and decrease of p-65 subunit of NF-κB phosphorylation, resulting in less liver CD68 positive macrophages, and inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and TNF-α expression. Our results established the link between SNN treatment, gut microbiota, BA profile and NASH, which might shed light into the mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of SNN on NASH, thus provide evidence for the clinical application of SNN.
山奈酚-荷叶碱配方是一种中药方剂,已被证实对治疗非酒精性脂肪性肝炎(NASH)有效,但具体机制尚不清楚。本研究表明,山奈酚-荷叶碱配方可缓解蛋氨酸-胆碱缺乏(MCD)饮食诱导的肝脂肪变性和炎症,以及血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)水平升高。16S rDNA 测序结果显示,山奈酚-荷叶碱配方可改变肠道微生物群结构,部分纠正肠道菌群失调。同时,我们采用基于液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱联用(UPLC-TQMS)的代谢组学方法分析粪便 BA 谱,发现山奈酚-荷叶碱配方可调节粪便 BA 谱,主要增加与微生物群相关的 BA 种类(如去氧胆酸),进而激活结肠而非回肠中的法尼醇 X 受体(FXR)-成纤维细胞生长因子 15(FGF15)信号通路。肠道 FXR-FGF15 信号通路的激活伴随着肝脏蛋白激酶 B(PKB/Akt)磷酸化的增加和 NF-κB p65 亚基磷酸化的减少,导致肝脏 CD68 阳性巨噬细胞减少,以及炎症细胞因子 IL-1β和 TNF-α的表达减少。我们的研究结果建立了山奈酚-荷叶碱配方治疗、肠道微生物群、BA 谱与 NASH 之间的联系,这可能为山奈酚-荷叶碱配方治疗 NASH 的有益作用提供了机制方面的解释,从而为其临床应用提供了证据。
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2020-1-31
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023
Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024-10-16
Clin Mol Hepatol. 2025-1
Front Pharmacol. 2024-8-23
Front Pharmacol. 2024-4-15
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023
Arch Pharm Res. 2022-11